Northwoods NYE 2025: A Long Drive to Marty's Place North and Winter Fun on Dog Lake

Christmas time is tricky for me because it's the busiest time for me at work. I took a half day on New Years Eve and then we headed straight up north.

The kids and I should've just went up days earlier, but instead I played video games in the guest room all week.

Was so happy to see this place even though I was not feeling great.

Of course this little guy brought another bug home with him for winter break.

Ah, the good place. There's nothing better than cottage in winter.

The cottage was looking beautiful in the snow.

Of course you have to trudge out onto to the lake to take it all in.

The addition really looks like it's always been there. 

Meadow always looking cute.

Oh, we arrived on New Year's Eve, which is super rare. I need to get some glitz and glammer for next year. The ladies are showing us up.

This year we went to Marty's Place North. We stopped here last year for drinks and appetizers when we were skating the Glide in nearby Boulder Junction. We had to come back for a dinner and what better day than NYE.

We had originally planned to go here because we wanted the special round table. It was already booked when I made a reservation. We still got a round table at least.

Theo kept himself busy while the food cooked. But he probably still complained.

I skipped the alcohol. Super jello. Thankfully the Dayquil was keeping my cold in check.

This kid is always reading.

I've become a pork chop guy at Supper Clubs. The cherry compote was amazing. Sides were all family style while each got a unique main course.

Meadow got a giant pretzel for her main course. Cause, why not?

We got here a bit late to stop by the bar.

As usual there wasn't much open on our drive back. 

G.G. has not been happy with this. Before COVID all the bars were open late. No more.

Spiritview looked lively so we stopped there.

A pop punk cover band played, which was kind of rad.

I enjoyed the late 90's early 2000's cover band.

Emo 4 life.

We had to get back to light off fireworks at midnight.

Nice shot Scott.

It'll do, I think I was cold, sick and tired, so I got this shot right before heading to bed.

With all the snow on the lake, we wouldn't be ice skating this year. But it was windy, which means kites!

I was kind of hoping for another epic wild ice new years again this year, but the deep snow is magical too.

Takes me back to years past. You never quite know what kind of weather you're going to get this early in winter.

We're still riding the old snowmobiles. Who needs anything more?

The snow started to fall and the lake looked like a snowglobe.

Apparently I missed Grandpa cutting the tree down, but Brooke caught it. Did you know that cutting a bit up from the ground is actually a thing in wild tree harvesting out in California?

I forgot we bought a bigger tree stand.

Theo decided to run wild through the frigid snow. And it was cold, cold outside.

This kid loves to be barefoot.

Then Brooke and I went on a Trig's run. Their smokehouse sausage rules and the liquor store is huge!

I don't remember why, but I made pierogies, sausage and red cabbage.

Seemed like a good meal to make for a group and a vegetarian. 

"Ruth" had surprised Blake, Meadow and Theo with a Christmas gift.

Each of them got to decorate a little Christmas village building.

Theo was determined to win his new Dog Man game. It's a collective game where either everyone wins or loses. We got so close to winning and didn't make it. Theo was pretty devastated. 

Their little buildings were so cute.

Despite the Dog Man game fail, Theo wanted to play more games. He really likes Telestrations.

This kid has big emotions, just like his dad. For better and worse.  

King Cake for 2nd Christmas.

It's supposed to be for the epiphany, but we'll forgive her.

Santa even brought the kids presents here instead of at home!

Blake and I each got a tin of popcorn.

It seems that every few years Brooke brings Mr. Mike more of these slippers.

He wears through them quickly. 

I made another Northwoods NYE book for the last five years of the best week of the year. No one else likes it as much as I do, but I think everyone has fun.

We need to start on the summer version. 

What? Theo got butter from the restaurant? Lucky kid.

My gifts this year were pretty good. Pioneer Girl, goat milk lotion and chapstick, a quick drying hand towel and squeegee/scraper for dishes.

Not a lot, but it was all great.

Theo scored too. Light up necklace, more construction building sets, Bluey painting, Pez, butter and another Camera lego set.

Meadow got a light up necklace, Bob Ross Chia Pet, Oreo gingerbread house, Cat calendar, french fry knitting kit and Warriors books.

This room is going to be great when it's finished.

Soon, very soon. It'll be nice to have some place else to escape the crowds.  

My ice work this year was a mushroom.

It was time to go adventure outside with my little bub.

I love this place.

But I also just wanted to try out my new Mavic 4 Pro drone.

Why does Mr. Mike look so cool snowmobiling while I look like a dork?

Nobody wanted to go anywhere, so we flew kites again.

It's our own mini kite festival.

I convinced Theo to play Tenzi but it didn't last too long.

These three are always doing something.

We go outside for an hour or so, come back inside and snack and then do it all over again.

I love me a lake walk. Kind of regretting not bring my skis. I thought the snow was going to be icy with the recent warm up.

The lake was a bit mushy in the usual place. 

Whoops.

Maybe this will be on next year's Three Lakes tourism guide?

Look who made it outside.

The kids made an Oreo gingerbread house and we all agreed it should be eaten.

One last game of Telestrations on our last night in Wisconsin. We would have stayed longer but Theo had hockey practice.